diff --git a/.github/labeler.yml b/.github/labeler.yml
index 3fcdadadb6b..f4d16d86e6b 100644
--- a/.github/labeler.yml
+++ b/.github/labeler.yml
@@ -212,6 +212,7 @@
   - redbot/core/_cli.py
   - redbot/core/_debuginfo.py
   - redbot/setup.py
+  - tests/core/test_dry_run.py
 "Category: Core - Help":
   - redbot/core/commands/help.py
 "Category: Core - i18n":
diff --git a/redbot/core/bot.py b/redbot/core/bot.py
index 359b65e3657..e5f901d9d3e 100644
--- a/redbot/core/bot.py
+++ b/redbot/core/bot.py
@@ -2275,7 +2275,15 @@ async def _delete_helper(m):
 
     async def close(self):
         """Logs out of Discord and closes all connections."""
-        await super().close()
+        try:
+            await super().close()
+        except AttributeError as e:
+            if "'Red' object has no attribute '_AutoShardedClient__queue'" in str(e):
+                # The client never finished starting up, so the queue was never created.
+                pass
+            else:
+                raise e
+
         await _drivers.get_driver_class().teardown()
         try:
             if self.rpc_enabled:
diff --git a/tests/core/test_dry_run.py b/tests/core/test_dry_run.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d18ea316971
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/core/test_dry_run.py
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+"""Integration test ensuring `redbot --dry-run` exits cleanly."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import subprocess
+import sys
+
+
+def test_dry_run_exits_cleanly():
+    """Running `redbot --dry-run` should exit with code 0 and without AttributeError."""
+    result = subprocess.run(
+        [
+            sys.executable,
+            "-m",
+            "redbot",
+            "--no-instance",
+            "--dry-run",
+            "--no-prompt",
+            "--token",
+            "dummy_token_for_testing",
+            "--prefix",
+            "!",
+        ],
+        capture_output=True,
+        text=True,
+        timeout=30,
+    )
+
+    assert result.returncode == 0, (
+        "Expected redbot dry-run to exit with code 0, "
+        f"got {result.returncode}.\nSTDOUT:\n{result.stdout}\nSTDERR:\n{result.stderr}"
+    )
+    assert "AttributeError" not in result.stderr, (
+        "redbot dry-run emitted AttributeError on stderr, indicating shutdown guard failed.\n"
+        f"STDERR:\n{result.stderr}"
+    )